Naomh Conaill ran out worthy winners in the Senior B final over St. Eunan’s in Mac Cumhaill Park as they claim the first title up for grabs today.
Naomh Conaill 1-7 St. Eunan’s 0-5
Darragh Gallagher kicked four points and a brilliant solo goal from Marc Burke decided the game for the Glenties men.
Eunan’s began well but Naomh Conaill controlled the second quarter and kept their opponents to two scores in the second half, both from frees, to win their first Senior B Championship since 2017.
Eunan’s started quick in their pursuit of four-in-a-row and David Boyle got off the mark with two superb scores from the left hand side, a great curling effort with the outside of the foot, then another great kick from a tight angle.
Darragh Gallagher got Naomh Conaill’s first score from a free after 11 minutes, while Boyle pointed from a free but Gallagher equalled it again with a great free of his own.
St. Eunans’ James Kelly looks for options during Saturday’s reserve final. Photo Evan Logan
Gallagher got his first from play as the two sides were level on 20 minutes but the Glenties men would soon take the lead as Marc Burke raced through from a long ball, running from the halfway line and the Eunan’s men unable to catch him.
Burke at pace took on the shot and fired low past Blake Forkan into the bottom corner.
Leon Thompson got the last score of the half after a great ball by Kieran Gallagher and he turned and fired over to make it 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval.
A low scoring half began at a good pace and substitute Lee McMonagle pointed from a free inside two minutes but Gallagher got his fourth point of the game and second from play.
David Boyle pointed from a free on 36 minutes but it would be the last score for St. Eunan’s in the game.
Naomh Conaill’s Aaron Thompson breaks out of defence during Saturday’s reserve final. Photo Evan Logan
A ball in from Cormac Finn found Rory Carr and he turned and shot but a vital save from Paudie Brennan kept the ball out.
And Naomh Conaill secured victory as Kieran Gallagher played in Nathan Byrne for a point before Gallagher got in on the action himself.
Late coming togethers saw Cormac Finn red carded but the game ended 1-7 to 0-5 and the Glenties men fully deserved their first Senior B title since 2017
St. Eunan’s: Blake Forkan; Sean Halvey, Darragh Toal, Gavin McCarron, Ryan Hilferty, James Kelly, John Gibbons; Noel O’Donnell, Cian McMonagle; Lorcan O’Donnell, Cormac Finn, Patrick McColgan, David Boyle (0-4,2f), Paddy McGowan, Eddie Blake.
Subs: Donal Higgins and Lee McMonagle (0-1f) for Gibbbons and O’Donnell (half-time), Rory Carr for Blake (35 mins), Eunan Diver for McGowan (51 mins), Johnny Lambe for Noel O’Donnell (56 mins)
Naomh Conaill: Paudie Brennan; Logan Quinn, Mark Campbell, Aaron Thompson, Connor Roarty, Shean Roarty, Joe Shankey Smith; Neil Francais Boyle, Nathan Byrne (0-1); Seamus Corcoran, Darragh Gallagher (0-4), Cian Doherty, Kieran Gallagher (0-1), Marc Burke (1-0), Leon Thompson (0-1).
Subs: Shane McDevitt for Leon Thompson, (43 mins), Robbie McDonald for Joe Shankey Smith (47 mins), Jordan O’Donnell for Paudie Brennan (52 mins), Tony Byrne for Neil Francais Boyle (56 mins), Michael Donoghue for Darragh Gallagher (61 mins)